Snow and winter driving

Winter driving

Extreme weather and poor light can make driving dangerous in the winter months. Make sure you adjust the way you drive by following these steps.

Maintain a safe distance to the car in front, it takes twice as much distance to stop in the rain.

Turn headlights on.

In fog or snowy conditions, use fog lights instead of setting your headlights on high beam, if you don’t have fog lights you can use your hazard lights with your headlights on low beam.

Avoid large puddles.

Avoid unnecessary travel in heavy rain.

For more wet weather tips, check out our wet and windy weather page.

Snow driving

Driving in snowy conditions requires a lot of concentration and patience. Stay calm if you’re stuck in a long queue and always follow road signs and directions by resort staff, they’re there for your safety.

Black ice

You cannot see black ice. Black ice generally forms at night time, in the early mornings or on sections of the roads that haven’t been exposed to sunlight, like under tree cover.

Take the following steps to minimise risk.

Check for black ice warnings by visiting VicTraffic or downloading the VicTraffic app

Delay your trip if you can to avoid icy conditions. If you have to drive, allow plenty of time and drive carefully.

If possible, use a car equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

Braking takes longer in icy conditions so always allow for plenty of room between you and the car in front.

Slow down and be patient.

What do I do if I hit black ice?

If you hit black ice, you will have little or no control over your vehicle.

Until you clear the patch of ice, use the accelerator, brakes and steering as little as possible.

Avoid accelerating, braking hard or turning the steering wheel quickly. If you try to struggle against the ice by braking hard or steering in the opposite direction, you increase the risk of spinning out.